According to Jim Wexell on Twitter, former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith will serve as a summer scouting intern with the team when training camp gets underway next month.
Current Steelers scout and former tight end Mark Bruener was an intern in 2010 at training camp and it led to him being named the teams West Coast BLESTO scout prior to his recent promotion to college scout.
In 2012, former Steelers special teams ace Chidi Iwuoma returned to Pittsburgh to intern during training camp and it led to him being hired by the Steelers just last month as a BLESTO representative. Iwuoma recently talked about the difference between being a player and being a scout.
“As a player you do film evaluation and you are familiar with players and know what they do and how quick they are,” said Iwuoma. “As a scout you take the objectivity out of it and look at the physical ability. There is a whole different language, things you look for, grades you give guys. Just knowing all the things the Steelers organization looks for. It’s learning the small things and helping you evaluate talent.”
“Before coming here I was interested and now I really want to get into scouting. It’s a first step and a great opportunity.”
Smith is well respected in Pittsburgh and his presence on the Steelers sidelines certainly won\’t hurt the further development of young defensive ends Ziggy Hood, Cameron Heyward, Al Woods and Nick Williams moving forward.
